Large Emergency Generator Buyer's Guide

How to Pick the Perfect Large Gas Generator

Let’s put things into perspective. Most older or smaller homes have 100-amp service. In other words, the maximum amount of electricity coming from the utility into the house is 100 amps. In reality, most homes never draw all 100 amps of power.

They often fluctuate somewhere above 50 amps, depending on how many appliances are running. Large emergency generators produce 30-amps worth of electricity. So, in theory, they can power up to 10 circuits in your main electrical panel.

The biggest challenge for these machines is central air conditioners. They simply lack enough surge wattage to start a 4- or 5-ton central air conditioner. If you really need air conditioning, we suggest you consider buying an X-Large Gas Generator, buying a small window air conditioner to run only during power outages, or opting for a home standby generator.

Looking for Automatic Standby Power?If you've got a larger home or would like to have standby power that will automatically start up and switch over in the event of an outage, you should consider a home standby generator.

Home standby generators are installed and wired into your circuit breaker. Once an outage occurs, your generator will automatically start up and begin replacing the lost power whether you're home or away.

How to Restore Power to Multiple Circuits with a Generator: Electric Generators Direct provides expert advice on how to power your home with a large portable emergency generator during a hurricane or electrical blackout.